Peace prize for path to Santiago

The Way of Saint James, the series of pilgrim paths across southern France and northern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the reputed remains of St James the Apostle, has been awarded the Prince of Asturias award for concord.

It is one of eight prizes awarded each year by a foundation associated with Crown Prince Felipe, the heir to the throne.

The seven other categories include science, social work, communications and the arts.

The concord award usually goes to individuals or organisations that contribute to "brotherhood of mankind, to the struggle against injustice, poverty, disease or ignorance, to the defence of freedom, to opening new horizons of knowledge, or who [have] been outstanding in protecting and preserving mankind's heritage".

In this instance, the jury said, it was awarded to the Way of Saint James as "a place of pilgrimage and a meeting point for people of different nations that has become a symbol of fraternity over the centuries and a cornerstone of awareness of Europe."

The 500-mile route was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1993.

The Asturias jury estimates that by the end of this year, a holy year because the July 25 feast of St James, Spain's patron saint, fell on a Sunday, six million people will have walked at least part of the route.